Sevilla/Football is back after the winter break, with the start of the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey. As Betis fans focus on the transfer market, excitement has been building following last Thursday’s open training session at the Benito Villamarín. Today marks a crucial moment for Pellegrini’s side as they take on Huesca at El Alcoraz.
This match is being approached with the utmost seriousness by La Palmera, as the Copa intensifies, presenting a Huesca team in great form, currently in the play-off zone for promotion to La Liga. Their supporters plan to fill the stadium, and they are better acclimatized than Betis to the cold and icy conditions that accompany a match scheduled at an unusual time for football (3:30 p.m.). It’s the nature of modern football dictated by television, but Betis must remain focused and demonstrate their desire to progress further in the tournament that has brought them the most joy throughout their history.
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For this match, Pellegrini will have to do without Bellerín, Marc Roca, William Carvalho, Fornals and Bartra due to injuries. However, he can still field a recognizable starting XI. Fran Vieites is expected to continue as starting goalkeeper in this competition, while the defense is likely to consist of Sabaly, Llorente, Natan and Perraud. Johnny and Altimira are expected at the double pivot position, with Lo Celso, Isco and Abde ahead of them, and Vitor Roque as the most advanced attacker. Another possibility is that the Engineer keeps Isco or Lo Celso on the bench and brings Chimy in on the right wing.
Either way, Betis must approach this match with intensity against a Huesca team whose players have shown optimism throughout the week regarding the elimination of the Heliopolitan team, as they wish to capitalize on their excellent form. Antonio Hidalgo’s side are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run, including five wins, including a 0-1 away success against Nàstic in the previous round of the Copa, and two draws. This fuels the hope and confidence of the team and its supporters that Betis will be eliminated from the competition.
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For this confrontation, Antonio Hidalgo will be without his midfielder Javi Pérez, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, as well as Javi Mier, who suffers from knee problems, and Iker Unzueta and Ayman Arguigue, both with muscular injuries. Given the Christmas break, it is very likely that the Aragonese coach will refrain from giving minutes to players who participated in the previous rounds against teams from lower divisions and opt for a composition mainly made up of starters. However, the tactical layout that Hidalgo employs on the pitch, which has yielded excellent results, will not change; it features a five-man defense, three midfielders and two attackers, defending with many players and creating considerable danger with quick counter-attacks, while also being threatening from set pieces.
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This first match of 2025 for Betis represents a significant opportunity to progress in the knockout tournaments, and today they have the chance to prove themselves in a Copa that takes its seriousness.
